Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1887-09-09

OuSy llfe, even Tor Time, ana suosiue
into one of those human lilies who
neither toll nor spin but she did
nothing by halves, and having once
consented to play the part, prepar; d
for it with will.
She wore huge mittens. filled with
bran. on her hands, till they were as
roslly white as sea shells. She wash.
ed away the little golden brown
freckles that accentuated the creamy
fairRess Of her skin. with buttermllk,
and she reviewed her wardrobe till
she was certain that every ruffle and
ribbon was in its proper place.
1t was very pretty picture-a per-
feet harmony in blue and goId-that
Lucian Lisle saw through the sway.
ing passion vines that garlanded the
front porch, as he swung open the
gate, one afternoon, on the edge Uf
September.
Nell was sitting IN camp chair
rocker, her blue Saline drrss match
ing her starry eyes. and b 9TH toning
with blne passion flowers, while her
lair was golden trap for the sun
beams that slanted through the heavy
LEAKAGE.
And is this the little cousin that |
knew years ago, in Boston, when
vas rough hobble- de, hoy, AMI she
the daintiest little maiden that ever
stepped out of fairy tale" he said,
smiling upon the pretty vision.
Nell smiled thanks for the laugh
ing compliment, and held out cordial
little palm.
Then Mrs Graham was called from
the Kitchen, there she WAS vainly try
ing to instruct the thick headed
Gretchen in the mysteries of II cert.in
kind Of tea cake.
You look so warm an tired. mother
Now just let me whisk on u ging
ham dress and 90 make the tea cakrs
and stir up the snow custard . begged
Nell, when Mr.. Lisle had been shown
to bis airy chamber, overlooking u
sweep OF red clover where the bee
buzzed in honey making mulfItuedes.
.Oh. Nell, you'll break my heart.
sobbed Mrs. Graham. tear or two
ningling with tie drops ot rrrspira
ton that headed her crimson fuce.
So Nell, with sigh, agreed To con
tinue hrr part Of pretty do-nothing.
Tha. evening Mrs. Graham sole
away to have chat with Sally Bean, u
plump and jolly old m id. with turn
for matchmaking, who lived rex;
door.
Its working like a charm. Sally
.he said, delightedly. They're sing
ing together, and he's looking at h-r
as il he couldn't take hi. eyes of her.
Well. my Nell's very bit good enough
for him! She is singing like an All
gel to night, and LOOKS as sweet AS
violet; and | guess he thinks so, too.
Now, if she'd done as she wanted to.
aud 'whewei' round making cake and
butter, and seeing to gathering the
grapes and late peaches, ! gees he
won't look ut her twice. If girls only
would learn that their mothers know
bestr she concluded, with sigh for
the fatuily of girlhosi in general, and
pretty Nell III particular.
i told YOU it would work Us slick
as ribbon, said Miss Bean, waving
a huge palm leaf fan with an sir of
modest pride.
BY which it will be seen that the
two ladies had carefully planned Nelrs
line of action, with an ulterior OBJ
ject in view, which they had not dis
closed TO the pretty girl, for whose
worldly advancement they were lay,
ing their match making heads TO
gether.
And nothing whispered to them
that nothing worth the winning is
won by deceit, idlepess and affection,
and that t neir hopes would have stood
"A far better chance Of fultiilment lad
Nell been allowed to show herself as
she wss-a charming, culture ener-
getic girl who was not ashamed to
work.
That night Lucian held soliloquy
over the conundrum his charming
cousin presented.
To love, or not to-that is the
question. Somehow | feel irresistibly
attracted towards her, and what is she
after all but pretty, heartless butter
fly? Mrs. Graham has not very good
health, yet she has this fruit farm to
sides butter making
md in door work. And evid ntly
Nell has nothing to do with work tx
cept to show her contempt for it
How | could love her il she would
only share the burden with her over
worked mother!
Then he recalled Nell's sweet face
as she sung the dear old ballads that
he loved
And then lie saw her scarlet lips
curve in contempt when he spoke of
the beauty Of the prairies, aud heard
her light laugh of scorn and flippant
reply, oh, don't know anything
about grapes except to eat them! when
he had questioned her concerning
their heavy iruited grapery.
Anu 80 tue Stc ca" VI dutlllI al lOii
and repulsion continued.
Nell was playing her part all too
we'll.
But she was not any happier than
Lucian during the three weeks that
followed.
When Daisy, Glover and Sweet
heart, her three brown-eyed Alder
neys, lowed lonesomely for her COM
ing; when the great crimson cling
stone praches were bruised by care
less picking; when two of her Gus
toners refused to take the wheyey
butter of Gretchen's making-she
chaled inwardly, aud longed to take
the helm once more.
She dimly suspected, too, that in
spite of Lucian's evident admiration
he secretly despised her: but she was